Aunt Shirley

Aunt Shirley Story Ministry
A ministry of hope and encouragement

Mission Statement: To encourage and teach through the power of stories with the hope everyone will see who they truly are in God's eyes and His plans for them.

Short Interview with Aunt Shirley

“Aunt Shirley, did you get dressed in the dark?”

	No, I’m dressed in vibrant colors and dripping in multi-colored fashion jewelry because this mixture of colors reminds me of God’s promises. Remember His rainbow? (Gen 9:16)
	And the cane? Oh, I can walk without it. It’s a reminder of God’s presence and comfort. (Ps 23:4)
	I know the ruby red nail polish is loud but the color reminds me of Jesus’ precious blood that was shed to wash away my sins. (Rev 1:5)
	Even my purple shoes are reminders of Christ. During the time that Jesus walked the earth, purple dye was expensive and difficult to acquire therefore only the rich and royalty owned purple robes. The color of my shoes reminds me that I’m a royal child of God’s redeemed by Jesus’ blood and therefore an heir with Christ. (Rom 8:17)
	So now what do you think of my outfit?

Aunt Shirley Story Ministry

Stories are written for ages 8 to senior citizens.

Aunt Shirley has been a quest speaker at retirement/nursing homes, ladies' retreats, women's ministries, seniors' ministries, mentally challenged adult groups, children's ministry, and churches in Ontario and Mexico

Sample Story – The Wedding Dress

        In a lovely valley there was a town called Elm View, where two excellent seamstresses lived. They were twins, Selma and Helga. Their business was called The Golden Needle.
        Unfortunately business had been very slow for the past few months. They were very worried about covering their expenses. Advertising and flyers had failed to stir up customers.
        On the edge of town lived a rich man named Mr. Alton Ashford. He owned a beautiful mansion on several acres, enclosed by a high barred wire fence and huge black iron gates.
        One day he sent a limo to The Golden Needle to pick up the sisters and bring them to his mansion.
Selma and Helga were very nervous about meeting Mr. Ashford. They had heard about his dishonest ways of making money and his terrible temper. As they sat in his office, they tightly held onto each other.
        Mr. Ashford explained that he had two daughters who were getting married that summer. He wanted wedding gowns made of the finest satin, and trimmed in delicate lace and real pearls. Money was no problem – he was prepared to pay a high price. He snapped open a leather brief case to reveal stacks of crisp twenties. Their eyes widened in astonishment. . . .

      Will Selma and Helga take this job?
      If they do, will they do their best work for this man of questionable reputation?

Aunt Shirley's Biography — (Shirley S. Tye)

	Shirley was born in 1952 to a Finnish immigrant couple in the Nickel Capital of the world, Sudbury, Ontario. She married an electrician, John, in 1976 and thought she would always live in her beloved town. But in 1982 they were forced to seek work elsewhere after a massive mine layoff. They settled in a peaceful farming village in the Kawartha Lakes area (Ontario) where the landscape is dotted with cottages and abandoned century old churches.
	Shirley’s restless nature keeps her on the move – perhaps an inherited trait from her Laplander grandfather. She enjoys learning, traveling, and writing. The desire to write emerged in 1986 when she took a correspondence writing course. Since then she has taken numerous courses and workshops to hone her God-given talent.
	Shirley looks at the world with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a child. She is often asking her favorite questions – with a slight Finnish accent although she calls it a speech impediment – “What’s that?” “Why?” and “Why not?” Believing in negatives without ever trying is true failure according to Shirley. But if one has tried and failed – that’s a lesson learned. She has fought through difficult times with what the Finns call “sisu” (perseverance) and hung unto God’s promises. He has always proved to be a very present help and continually encourages her. Now she is stepping out in faith as the flamboyant character “Aunt Shirley” to follow God’s calling to be an encourager through the power of stories teaching truth.

Publishing Credits

Group Recycles Medical Supplies to Poorer Countries	article November 2007	Faith Today
*An Empty Shell*	devotional - January/06	Sermon Illustrator
(Several titles)		Kawartha Life, Bobcaygeon, ON
(Several titles)	devotionals– Oct./05 ff	PCCWeb Daily Devotional
*Connecting with Long-term Members*	regular column / May 2004 - present	FellowScript (InScribe newsletter, published in Edmonton, AB)
*The Bucket Run*	vignette - August/04	Cottage Country Connections, Bobcaygeon, ON
*Hometown Mission Field*	article - current	Calvary Pentecostal Website
*A Ministry of Rags (click "here")*	article - March/04	Testimony, Mississauga, ON
*Celebrating Jesus’ Love*	article - January/04	Testimony, Mississauga, ON
*Reaching Out and Growing*	article - March-April/03	BG Club Connections, Mississauga, ON
*All Is Not As It Seems*	short story - Fall/02	Signatures, Oshawa, ON
*Woman makes difference at Tanzanian Orphanage*	article - May 28/01	Lindsay Daily Post, Lindsay, ON
*Awesome VBS*	news item - June/01	Testimony, Mississauga, ON

Certificates & Memberships

	Writing for Children & Teenagers from The Institute of Children’s Literature, Redding Ridge, CT
	Sunday School Teacher’s certificate from Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC), Mississauga, ON
	Lay Pastoral Counselor from The Evangelical Order of Certified Pastoral Counselors of America (EOCPC), Toronto, ON
	3-Year Business & Administration – Accounting from Durham College, Oshawa, ON
	Member of InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship
	Member of Writers' Circle of Durham Region (WCDR).
	Member of Haliburton Highlands Writers’ and Editors’ Network, Minden, ON (HHWEN)
	Member of Canadian Church Press (Associate Member)
	Arts Council - Haliburton, ON

Aunt Shirley Story Ministry
A ministry of hope and encouragement

Shirley S. Tye, LPC
Writer/Storyteller

To God be the glory!

This page is hosted by

Hit Counter

Reset 09/19/2005